Clarence Heinle

Clarence Carl Heinle, 77, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026, at the home of his daughter, Amy, in Mandan, North Dakota, following several years of declining health.

Clarence was born on June 1, 1949, at Trinity Hospital in Jamestown, North Dakota, to Carl and Freida Heinle. He grew up on the family farm north of Medina alongside his sisters, Darlene and Myrtle. Farm life taught him the value of hard work from an early age, whether milking cows, putting up hay, or taking on the many daily responsibilities that came with growing up on a farm.

He attended Chase Lake Country School through the fourth grade before transferring to Medina Public School, where he began fifth grade. Clarence graduated from Medina High School in May 1967 and went on to attend NDSSS, earning a two-year degree in Auto Mechanics in the spring of 1969. While attending college, he worked for Walton Farms near Breckenridge, Minnesota.

In November 1969, Clarence was drafted into the United States Army. He completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and AIT at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He proudly served in Germany as a mechanic working on Army trucks and was honorably discharged in 1971 with the rank of Specialist Fourth Class.

After returning to North Dakota, Clarence worked for Lindberg Builders in Jamestown while also helping on the family farm. In 1972, he moved to Columbia, Missouri, where he worked as a mechanic for International Harvester. He returned to North Dakota in May 1973 and began working as an auto mechanic for Missouri Valley Motors in Bismarck while becoming increasingly involved in the family farming operation.

While attending college, Clarence met the love of his life, Ethel Krous. Their relationship spanned five years before they were married on November 3, 1973. In March 1975, during a memorable blizzard, they moved to the family farm, where they built a life together and remained for more than five decades. Together they raised three children—two sons and a daughter.

Clarence was a man of many talents and strong work ethic. Throughout the years, he balanced farming with numerous jobs, including working sale days at Jamestown Livestock, helping with butchering at Kramlich's Locker, and doing carpentry, roofing, and cement work. He had a remarkable ability to build, repair, and create something useful from almost nothing. If something needed fixing, Clarence could usually find a way.

He especially enjoyed hunting and fishing. Among his favorite adventures were a fishing trip to Flin Flon, Canada, elk hunting in Colorado with his sons, brothers-in-law, and friends, and finally fulfilling a lifelong dream of drawing a moose tag for hunting in ND, He looked forward to deer hunting each fall and bagged many deer.

Clarence will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 52 years, Ethel; his sons, Andrew (Marty) Heinle and Matthew (April) Heinle; and his daughter, Amy (Matthew) Schanandore. He is also survived by his sister, Darlene (Vernon) Bender; his grandchildren, Kesha (Matthew) Roden, Kyle (Daniele) Jones, Baylee (Sage) Heinle, Alex Heinle; Aidan and Ellis Heinle; Zachary, Jacob, Kylee, Lucas, and Zoe Schanandore, and; five great-grandchildren, Lilliana, Arabella, Gideon, Lorelei, and Hendrix, with one more great-grandchild expected soon. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law, cousins, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Freida Heinle; his sister and brother-in-law, Myrtle and Doug Schmid; his father- and mother-in-law; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; cousins; nephews; and many cherished friends.

Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at English Lutheran Church, Medina, ND with Pastor Erik Weber officiating. Visitation will be one hour before service. Interment will be in Medina Cemetery.

Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.